Industrial strategy will be ‘counterpoint to Brexit’

Britain’s upcoming industrial strategy must demonstrate a global science and engineering role for the UK, MPs have heard.

Giving evidence to the House of Commons Committee on Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy on 8 November, Sarah Main, director of the Campaign for Science and Engineering, said a robust strategy would be “a really strong counterpoint to Brexit”. It was a good opportunity to signal the UK’s intent on science and innovation in the medium and long term, she said.

John Latham, chairman of the University Alliance group of business-focused universities, also giving evidence, agreed that the strategy would not just be an internal tool but would also affect the external view of the UK, signalling “a direction of travel”. Latham pointed out that the UK “cannot support everything” so the strategy must have a clear focus.